Rate of Syphilis Infection and Socio - Psychological Analysis on Prostitutes living near Kwang - ju city / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

In July 1977 the sociopsychological and medical aspects of prostitution were studied in Songjungli, population over 50, 000, near Kwang-ju city. Most of the prostitutes were helow the age of 28 (80%), had been raised in large families in whic4 female were promiiant and had low levels of education. All of. the girls had their first sexual experience between 15 and 25 with more than half before the age of 19. The first sexual partner was usually a lover, And 45.3% of them became prostitutes within one year of their initial sexual act. Me,inly economic difficulties and family troubles were the major causative factors for turning to prostitution. Most of girls (86%) were practicing contraceptive methods and among them 73% were using oral pills. However, 77% of the girls had become pregnant at least once. A high percentage of the girls (90%) were practicing venereal disease prevention methods and nearly a half of them were practicing douche method immediately after coitus. Among the 115 prostitutes tested, 29 (25. 2%) were VDRL reactive and all VDRL reactive girls were treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) test positive (100 %).